Stilts



(No Model.) L. 0' NsON,

STILTS.

No. 450,357. Patented Apr. 14,1891.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS C. JOHNSON, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

STILTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,357, dated April 14, 1891.

Application filed June 11, 1890. Serial No. 355,251.. (Ilc model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS (J. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, now residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stilts, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification.

In the drawing the figure shown is a perspective view of my device for stilts sufficiently clear to be easily understood, and in which reference is made by numerals.

My invention relates to stilts.

The object of my invention is to provide a suitable foot-supporting device for stilts which can be easily applied to a staff and, if desired, changed to any determined height, and which, should the staff he accidentally broken, can be readily detached and applied to another.

The device possesses great strength, is not easily broken, and is light and durable.

My invention consists in a foot-supporting device for stilts which comprises a combination of parts as set forth in the following description.

The vertical plate 1 has a projecting horizontal plate 2 about midway of its length, with a supporting-bridge 3, and these three parts comprise the essential features of my device, although the supporting-bridge may be so reduced in size as to form an indistinct feature; but when the removable strap 4, which connects the upper end of the vertical plate with the outer end of the horizontal plate, is in place the device is ready to be used in its most complete form.

It will be observed by reference to the drawing that the device receives its supporting strength from that part of the vertical plate which projects above the horizontal plate, and which part of the vertical plate by so projecting above the horizontal plate supplies a desired feature in affording at its top a means of securing thereto one end of a footretaining removable strap.

The vertical plate 1 is supplied with perforations or screw-holes 5 5 5, as shown, for securing the whole device in place upon the staff 9, and near the top of thisplate 1 there projects a button 6, as shown, having ashort neck and an oblong head thereon. This button serves the purpose of securing one end of the strap 4, (shown in the drawing,) while there. is a similar button 6 at the outer extremity of the horizontal plate 2 for the purpose of securing the other end of strap 4, which when secured in place forms a foot retaining strap for the wearer. Y

The strap 4 has button-holes at each end, by which it is secured in place over the buttons 6 6, as shown; but other means than that described may be used-for securing the strap in place.

There is a fullness 8 at the point of intersection of the two plates 1 and 2, which relieves the strain and tendency of the plates to separate at that point. I

At the outer end of the horizontal plate there is formed a flange 7, projecting upward, for the purpose of affording a bearingsurface for the strap, and when the stilt is used without a strap to serve as a guard to the foot.

From the foregoing it is evident the device can be used with or without the strap 4, and any suitable means employed for securing the same in place upon the staff.

Screws are preferred as the simplest means for securing the device in place; but bolts may be used, in which case the staff is supplied with a number of bolt-holes 10 passing through it, which, when so used, affords an adjustable feature.

The Vertical-plate may have cast thereon lugs projecting backward, (to supply the place of bolts,) which are to pass through the holes 10 in the staff 9 and be riveted thereon.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As a new article of manufacture, a footpiece for stilts comprising a vertical plate or support, a horizontal foot-plate carried by the said support and located about midway of its length, said plate having an upwardlyextending flange on its outer end, strap-attaching lugs or buttons carried by the vertioal support above and. free from the footplate and by the said flange, and a strengthening-bridge connecting the vertical support and the foot-plate, the Whole being preferably formed integral.

In testimony whereof I affix any signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS O. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

MARTIN N. EVANS, ANSON S. TAYLOR. 

